CC 2180 PTO Belt Problem

[Red Dave]

I have a Cub Cadet 2180. I've had it since new-13 or 14 years.

It keeps shredding the PTO belt that turns the mower blades. It doesn't just throw them, it shreds them. No warning, it all seems to be mowing OK, then the belt flies apart.

I've checked all the pulleys and all are free and bearings good. I've checked pulley alignment and they all seem to be lined up as they should. I've replaced the idler pulleys because they seemed a bit worn.

I had it to the dealer and they thought the front of the deck was a bit lower than it should be, so they readjusted to level it up. They couldn't identify any other problems. That worked for awhile, but now it back to shredding PTO belts

It's frustrating, I've shredded at least 6 belts over the past few years, and purebred CC Belts are about $40 each at the dealer. I'm tired of it.

Anybody know anything else I should look at? Anybody else had this problem and found a cure?

[cooperino]

I would carefully inspect every pulley the belt comes in contact with. Look for burrs and imperfections on the surfaces that touch the belt.

[Red Dave]

Originally Posted by cooperino

I would carefully inspect every pulley the belt comes in contact with. Look for burrs and imperfections on the surfaces that touch the belt.

Thanks, I've been over those pulleys both visually and by feel several times, nothing found.

I will however, go over them again. I'd LOVE to actually find something wrong so I can finally fix something.

[cooperino]

Originally Posted by Red Dave

Thanks, I've been over those pulleys both visually and by feel several times, nothing found.

I will however, go over them again. I'd LOVE to actually find something wrong so I can finally fix something.

Also look at alignment from pulley to pulley making sure belt is not riding up or down over pulley edges.

[ol'George]

What puts the tension on the belts, a spring?
that needs to be looked at as if loose, it will cause a belt to roll over then it destroys itself.
Also if pulley grooves are worn and look more like a "U" than a "V" it can cause
excessive wear/heating and ultimately belt failure.

[Sam Mac]

My BIL has a 2180 that has the same issue. I adjusted the front of the deck up, didn't help then got looking at it close and it looks like over time the center pulley get's bent forward because the deck bends from the tension on the belt. I shimmed it up to level it and as of now I have not heard of any more problems.

[Red Dave]

Originally Posted by Sam Mac

My BIL has a 2180 that has the same issue. I adjusted the front of the deck up, didn't help then got looking at it close and it looks like over time the center pulley get's bent forward because the deck bends from the tension on the belt. I shimmed it up to level it and as of now I have not heard of any more problems.

I glad to hear that I am not the only one with the problem. There is a bracket at the rear of the deck that I found cracked last year. It holds the pulley on the deck and without it the deck pulley could tip forward from the tension of the belt. I fixed that last year and did shim a bit and I thought it was enough, maybe it needs more? You may have hit on something there.

I got another new belt from the CC dealer ($46.77!!!), closely inspected the deck, the pulleys, the drive pulley and the idler pulleys, then put it on. Didn't see anything wrong, didn't fix anything, didn't change anything, just greased the deck, sharpened the blades and put the new belt on.

Mowed almost an acre, no issues. Could not have worked any better.
Yet Saturday, that same mower didn't go 50 feet before it destroyed the belt.
No idea why. I wish I knew why.

I am considering that it may be possessed by a poltergeist. A very nasty one.